Exclusive Review: Mad Man Smooth – “Autonomous: Chapter V” Album/LP

Posted in Album, Careers, Hip Hop, Indie, Music Review, Press Release, Rap by

Review by: Justyn W. Brodsky

Cover Art of Mad Man Smooth’s Album

Mad Man Smooth is no stranger to our platform. He has been sustaining a heavy presence in our review section and since then has built up an insatiable buzz both on our website and his career collectively. So we were stoked to receive an advance copy of his newest 16-track juggernaut ‘Autonomous V’, which is his fifth chapter in his highly acclaimed ‘Autonomous’ series. And this one, much like the others, has a plethora of talented feature artists, innovative tracks, versatile components, key production elements and everything in between to solidify this as another gem in MMS‘s growing discography.

‘Autonomous V’ is another record that further cements MMS as an important and vital voice in the Hip Hop community for all the right reasons. His skill set is multifaceted and limitless, his lyrical techniques are dynamically unwavering, and his passion for the mic goes far beyond today’s contemporary artist; making him one of the more realer artists of the modern musical realm with his knack for crafting bars that have more power and substance than most mainstream rappers. His anchor single “To The Left” is the track that catapults this record into full throttle due to its popularity, versatility and notable reggae-influenced sound that sets a dynamic tone for the rest of the album. According to MMS himself, this album has a formula comprised of three distinctive elements. The first is the songs themselves being accessible to the every day listener. The next being mashups, where no vocals are one of the key factors and instead puts the sole focus onto the musical vibes enticing a signature sound that encourages a party atmosphere – similar to a DJ setting. And lastly, the beats themselves. The effective use of instruments, plugins and clever studio tricks that essentially carries the backbone of each song. This formula is one of the centerpieces that puts the concept of the ‘Autonomous’ series right out to the forefront and really showcases the genius and cleverness of MMS‘s mindset as an artist and creator of his craft; giving us a glimpse into his ability to conceptualize and successfully bring his vision to life.

This album also has an ongoing theme that centers around authentic vibes and moods, which breathes life into every track with something unique, diverse and effective in its execution. “Cherry Moonlight” has beautiful textures in the beat structure that really compliments the cleverly executed lyrical bars and hooks, and combines post production additives that bring extra layers to the table without going into unnecessary territory. “This War” is another effectively versatile track with a more old school feel that also has an impressive artist feature from Yoki Gold. It’s a political song that touches on the subject matter of unity, giving the audience a feeling of perspective and self awareness that encourages not to take sides. A standout on this record is definitely “From The Roots” (feat. Loso Westcrook), a track that tells a crucial story and focuses on the realm of realism in regards to where you come from; your roots. It’s a self awareness song that will definitely grab your attention and resonate with anyone with a similar past.

Overall, it’s very hard to pick a favorite off an album with tracks that could easily be standouts on their own. ‘Autonomous V’ is a rare gem where you don’t feel the need to skip over one track, sorta like Linkin Park’s ‘Hybrid Theory’ and ‘Meteora’ albums. Mad Man Smooth is on an upward journey to much bigger things with the music industry and this album is continued proof of that. He’s a vital voice in the Hip Hop community that keeps it real and consistent; two things that just about guarantee a bigger place in the musical world for MMS, and most of all, deservingly. ‘Autonomous V’ officially drops on June 29th and will be available on Spotify, Apple Music and all other digital music streaming platforms. This will be one of the more important records of 2020 and is a must-listen in every regard. Mark your calendars.

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